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G. S. WALKERv AUTMATIG WATER HEATER 1918 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed .my 17 Patented Mar. 3, 1925 GILBERT s. WALKEE, E WAsH INGToN,'nIsTRIcT or COLUMBIA- AUTOMATIC WATER HEATER.Y

. To all whom 'it may concern:

Be. it known that I, GILBERT S. WALKER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of' Columbia (whose post-office address is American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 29 West 39th Street, NewYork, N. Y.)`, have invented a newv and useful Improvement inv Automatic Water Heaters, of 'which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic water heaters.

The primary object of my invention is to produce a device. whereby the flow of water is automatically regulated by the thermostat, and also to control the flow of gas to the burners in a simple manner. f

One of the advantages of my invention is economy in the consumption not only of gas hut also of water. Anadditional advantage is that the friction' of the water through the heater is utilized in operatingthe piston,

thus reducing thel loss of head when water' is drawn on the top floor.

VIn the accompanying drawings, Figures l, 4, 5 and 6, I show the, preferred form of my invention. In Figures 2 and 3 I show some of' the partsin modified form.

Figurel is a side elevation of a well a0 known style of water heater with my invention applied. V

Figure 2 isa front view of a modified form of the invention, the parts being shown in section.. Y :as Figure 3 is a side View of the same, the

coils and burners being shown. diagrammatically.

Figure 4 is a top view of the preferred form. .lo Figure 5 is a vertical section through the wat-er motor and gas valve of the same form. Figure 6 is la vertical section through the thermostat and water valve of the same form of the invention. V Referring to Fig. l the numeral l indicates the shell or casing of the heater, 2 is the usual coil located Within said shell, 3 is the usual burner or burners located immediately below said coil for heating the water, 4 is a` thermostat Vpreferably placed in the outlet of the lower section of the coil Application' fn'ed'July 17, 1918. serial No. 245,280.

and may' be 'of any of the usual types of construction. f

The flow of Water through the heater is from a. cold water inlet'pipe 5, to a.' water valve 6 where the quantity of water is'regulated by the thermostat,'then througha pipe 19 'to the coil wherefthe water is heated,

thenthrough the thermostat', Aand "through aV pipeflS to one of the outlet faucets I-IVVO. There are also small Water pipes 115 and 83 comifnunicating from the Vwater yon the two sides of the water valve 6to corresponding sides of a` water motor 9, Vsol that when there is a difference of Water pressure due to the restriction of thewater flow by valve 6, the water motor will movey and open a gas valve 36.

Gas enters from a gas inlet pipe 39, flows through gas valve 36 and a pipe 4l to the burners 3. There is also al small gas pipe 43 conducting gas through ay small valve 44 to a pilot burner 45, which vserves to ignite the main burners 3.

There is a frame 22 holding the various parts inplace. v

In Figs. 2 and 3 I show a` modified form of my invention. The. heating coilis shown at 2 and the burners at 3. The thermostat T shown at the left of Fig. 2 is of ai'well known type in which a copper pipe 4 forms a part of the conduit for the4 hot water as it 4passes from the'coil 62 to the'hot water outletV pipe 18;v rA part of the cold water pipe 19 forms thel frame of the thermostat.

These pipes are held firmly together at `the top by the casing of the check valve and vat the bottom of the thermostat` the cold water pipe 19 is held firmly atl 51, to thc main frame 22'." The small pipe lbeing iexible, the lower lpart of the copper pipe 4 is free to. movefup and down under the influence of the temperature of the hot water.

A knife edge 52attached to the copper tubev This' transmits movement to the lever 24. lever. 24- fulcrums on the point of the screw 25" carried the frame 22. The further end of the long arm of this lever transmits the movement to the Water valve stem 10.

Onthe upper end of the valve stem l() is a knife edge 3l on which the lever 24 rests. Adjustments are provided so that the water valve may be set to close when the temperature falls below a predetermined point. The water valve stem passes through the stuiiing box 13 into the upper chamber of the valve casing 6 and is fastened tothe two valves 7 and 7, said valves lbeing adapted to close on the two seats 8 and 8a. rllhese valves are urged to their seats by the spring 54 and, considered together, are in approximate hydrostatic balance. The stem 10 is made as small in diameter as practicable.

The gas valve 36 is urged to its seat 37 by the spring 38. This spring urges the water motor or piston 9 down to the normal position shown. The piston 9 is accurately fitted in its cylinder .59 and may be provided` with soft packing at the top to reduce the leakage. The bottom of the cylinder is in communication with the cold water inlet pipe 5', and the top may be put in communication with either the cold water pipe 19 beyond the valve 7, or with the hot water outlet pipe 18. The change r is e'ected by a smal-l three-way cock 63.

In either case the communication is through the opening 14 and the pipe 15', and the speed of the movement of the piston is controlled by the small valve 16. The cylinder 59 is provided with a .port "60 adapted to be uncovered by the bottom of the piston 9 when the adjustment of the screw 47 permits, so that, if desired, some water will flow as soon as a faucet is opened, even though this first flow of water may not be hot. r1`he amount of water that will flow at such time can be regulated by either the conversion cock 61 or by the adjusting screw 47. The opening of the gas valve can be made sufficient for either case. l prefer, however, to close the conversion cock 61 and allow the thermostat to regulate the quantity of water flowing through the heater, all the way from noflow (eX- cept that due to leakage) when cold, 'to full free owy of water when hot.

One of the well known circulating systems is provided for conducting hot water to the thermostat when no water is flowing from the heater. It consists of a reversed bottom section 62 of the heating coil and a. ball check valve 50, the latter to prevent cold water from the pipe 19 passing into the hot water pipe 18. lNhen brought into operation by the opening of a hot water faucet the back pressure on the top of the piston 9 is reduced and the piston rises as fast as the water can escape through the small valve 16. This opens the gas valve 36. and the gas iiows to the burners 3 where it is ignited by the pilot burner 45. As the water in the lower section of the coil gets hot it rises into the thermostat 4, lifts the check valve 50 allowing the colder water to pass from the top of 4 into the pipe 19', and down through the coil 2 and return to the lower section 62. The thermostat when thus heated or when heated directly as in the first described form of the invent-ion, opens the water valves 7 and 7?, and allows cold water to flow in from the in le't pipe 5, up through the pipe 19", and as it can not pass down through the check valve 5.0, i-t is Vcompelled to pass` ldown through the coils 2 and 62 where it is heated and passes on through the thermostat 4 to the hot water outlet 18. As long as water is drawn, the thermostat will move the water valve up and down enough -to regulate the -iflow of water and proportion it to the amount of heat supplied by the burners, and so furnish hot water at a oracticall uniform temnerature regardless of changing conditions. 1f the water gets too hot, the valve 7" will be opened far enough to reduce the difference of pressure on the 'two sides of the piston `9 sufliciently to vl'et the spring 38 close the gas valve 36. As previously stated, the conversion cock 61 may be opened to permit any desired amount of water to flow through the heater before it is hot. 1f the cock 61 is fully opened the device will then regulate the gas supply, leaving the water flow nearly uniform.

It will be understood that the circulating system and thermostat shown lin Figs. 2 and 3 can be interchanged with those shown in the other figures.

1n Figs. '4 to 6 l show the preferred form of my invention, in which the thermostat is shown at 4i. It is so constructed that when the copper tube .21 expands under the influence of heat it permits the porcelain rod 23 to move to the left Linder `the action of the spring` :transmitted by the compound levers 24 'and 26. The spring 79 is strong enough to overcome the spring 54 and the friction and keep the thermostat and its levers under a continuous stress. The thermostat is made unusually 'heavy because the thermostats familar in this art operate gas valves, and a water valve cannot 'be made 'to operate as easily as a gas valve. On 'the lower end of the water valve stem 10 is a knife edge 31 bearing on the under side ofthe lever 26 and adjustable so the water valve can be set to open when the water reaches the predetermined temperature. rThe stem 10v is very small -in diameter so as not to `unbalance the valve too much. The stem passes through a stuffing box 13 and is connected to .lugs attached to the valve 7 Attached to the uppersideof 'the valve is a piston 71 of nearly the same area as the valve. The relative areas ofthe valve and its piston may be varied slightly so as to get the valve as nearly balanced as ,possible so The water enters at v5 passes throughthe valve 7 and pipe 19" tothe 'top of the heater coil.

The gas enters at 39, passes through `a gas valve 36 and through a pipe lll to the burners. The valve 36 is urged toits seat 37 by a spring 38 Aand by gravity.

These forces also deflect a diaphragm 8OA until the gas valve is seated. The lower chamber 82 of the water motor 9 is supplied with water at inlet pressure through the -pipe 83 which communicates with the inlet pipe li. The chamber above the diaphragm communicatesfwith the hot waterA pipe by means of pipe 14, cock 16, vpipe l5 and pipe 19. There will generally be sufficient leakage past the valve 7 to equalize the pressure on the two sides of` the diaphragmand supply the waterV which p leaksA out of the house fixtures. but if not a small hole may be made at any convenient point for the purpose.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show all the parts in their normal position as they are when no water is being drawn and the thermostat has become cool. Upon the opening of any hot water faucet there will be a reduction of water pressure in thev small pipe l5 and in the chamber 84". TheV diaphragm 80 will be forcedupward by the water pressure communicated from the inlet pipe 5 through pipe 83. This water pressure is not reduced materially by the opening of the faucet because the water flow is restricted by the water valve 7 When the diaphragm goes up it opens the gas valve 36 fully.

Gas will now flow freely to the main burners and be ignited by the pilot light. Coinbustion Yat maximum efficiency will take place because the gas How is normal and the burners are made and adjusted for this flow. The thermostat still being cool, water valve 7 remains closed and little orno water flows from the faucet. Consequently the water is heated quicker than would otherwise be the. case and there is a saving of both gas and water. Furthermore, rthe flow of water from the faucet informs the user as to the operation of theheater.

As the VVtemperature of the water approaches the predetermined temperature, the inner thermostat tube 21 expands, and the porcelain rod 23, whose length is changed but little by heat, moves slightly to the left. This movement is multiplied by the com- A pound levers so that the right end of lever 26 lowers rapidly. At the predetermined temperature the water valve 7 will open slightly so that a small amount ofl water will flow from the faucet.

If the temperature of the water increases beyond the predetermined point the water valve will open farther, and if the temperature Vfalls below the predetermined point the water valve will close somewhat. Thus the water will be delivered at practically uniform temperature, the quantity of water being automatically varied in accordance with the amount of heat produced by the burners. Meanwhile Athe burners continue to burn at their full capacity and greatest eiiiciency, which is not the case with the usualA kind of automatic water heater. y

In the unusual event ofthe faucet being opened only part way, or if for any other reason the water does not carry away the heat as fast as it is produced, the water valve will open so far that the Apressures on the two sides of the diaphragm will be equalized and the spring will close the gas valve'.

At any time'during the above described operation that the faucet is closed, the pressures on the two sides of the water motor immediately equalize, allowing the spring to valve completely controlling the flow of water through the conduit, and an operative connection between the thermostat and the water valve whereby the water valve is actuated automatically according to the temperature of the fwater within the conduit and independent of water pressures.

2. In an automatic water heater, la water heating coil having a water inlet and a water outlet, a burner for heating the coil., means for automatically bringing the burner into action when the water outlet is opened,

Va balanced water valve completely controlling the rtlowl of water through the heating coll, a thermostat 1n the coil, and an operative connection between the. thermostat and the balanced water @valve whereby the said valve is automatically actuatedl to control the flow of water through the heating coil according to the temperature of the water within the heating coil.

3- In an automatic water heater, a conduit having an inlet and an outlet, a burner for heating the conduit, means for automatically bringing the burner into action when the outlet of the conduit is opened, a normally lUO closed water valve completely controlling the flow of water through the conduit, a thermostat within the conduit, and an operative connection between the thermostat and the water valve whereby the water valve is opened .and closed according to variations ot temperature ol the water in the conduit.

el. In anautomatic water heater, a heating coil having an inlet and an outlet, a burner for `heating the coil, means for automatically supplying fuel to the burner when the outlet is opened, a thermostat in the coil, a normally closed balanced water valve completely controlling the flow of water through the coil, 1. thermostat responsive to the temperature ot the water within the coil, and an operative connection between the thermostat and the water valve whereby the said valve is automatically opened and closed according to the temperature of the water in the .heating coil.

5. In an automatic water heater, a water conduit having an inlet and an outlet, heating means for the conduit, a water val-ve completely controlling the flow of water throughthe conduit, a thermostat responsive to the hea-tof the water within the conduit, an operative connection between the thermostat and the water valve for 'automat-- ically moving the water valve to regulate the flow of water through the conduit in accordance with the temperature of the water, a water motor independent of the water valve, and means actuated by the water motor for controlling the heating means.

6. In an automatic water heater, a gas burner, a gas valve, a water pipe, a water valve .completely controlling the How of water through the pipe, a thermostat in the heat zone of the gas burner, an operative connection between the thermostat and the water valve whereby the water valve is actuated altogether by the thermostat and the temperature of the water is regulated by varying the flow of water through .the heater, and means for automatically operating the gas valve by differences ot pressure on opposite sides of the water valve.

7. In an automatic water heater, a gas burner, a gas valve to regulate the burner, a water motor having an inlet chamber and an outletchamber, means operatively connecting the water motor tothe gas valve, water pipe, a water valve in the water pipe controlling the flow of water through the heater, means establishing communication between the water pipe on the inlet side .of the water valve and the inlet chamber of the water motor, means establishing communication between the water pipe on the outlet side of the water valve and the outlet chamber of the water motor, a thermostat in the heat Zone o'f the burner, and means operatively connecting the water valve to the thermostat.

8. In an automatic waterheater, a manually controlled outlet valve for the heater, a normally closed automatic Water valve completely `controlling the .flow ott water through 'the heater when .the outlet valve is opened, a .thermostatl responsive tothe temperature of the water withinwthe heater, an operativeoonnection between the thermostat and the automatic `water valve, whereby the said water valve is automatically opened and closed according-to ther-temperature of the water within the heater .and the temperature of the water withdrawn trom the heater is regulated varying the quantity oi water permitted by the automatic water valveto owthrough theheater, a burner, and means ,actuated .by Vdifferences of pressure on opposite :sides of the automatic water valve for automatically turning the burner on and of.

9. In an automatic water heater, the combination with a heating conduit, heating means for'the conduit, a manually-.controlled outlet valve for the conduit, automatic means for .completely controlling the flow of water throughV the heater according to `the temperature of .the water whenzthe .outlet valve is opened and `regulating the temperature of the water withdrawn from-the heater by vaiyingthe-quantity of water permitted to pass through the outlet, and ,means actuated automatically by theopening .and closing ot' the. loutlet valve for automatically rendering the heating v.Ineansoperative and inoperative, l

l0. In an automatic water heater, a normally closed water valve -.,completely controlling-theltlowof lwater throughthe heater, a thermostat responsive to the temperature of the water within theheater, an operative connection .between the thermostat :and the water valve for opening and `closing the water val-ve automatically according ,to the temperature of the water within the heater, and governing the temperature by varying the quantityo'tl water permittedby the valve to pass through the heater, a gas burner, a normally closed gas valve and a water motor actuated by diferenees ,of pressure on opposite sides ot the water valve for automatically .controlling the gas .valve whereby the gas valve will .be closed `when there is no flow of water through the heater and also when the water valve .is fully opened, so that there is no difference in the `pressures on opposite sides thereof. 1

Signed at Washington, in the District lot Columbia, this 16th day ofaluly, 191,8.

GILBERT S. WALKER. Witnesses:

CHRISTIAN NmLsEN, Jr., E. M. FRY, 

